The Benefits and Risks of Walking Versus Running

Your coworker swears by her morning runs. Your neighbor claims to get all the exercise she needs by walking. So is one better than the other? The answer is a personal one. Both running and walking, when done on a regular basis, provide a full array of health benefits, including:

Calorie Expenditure

The first question many people ask when considering a new exercise is: How many calories does it burn? The number of calories you burn while running or walking will depend on your weight, how long you exercise for, and activity intensity. The faster your speed, the more calories you burn, giving running the calorie-burning edge over walking.

Risk of Injury

There is a lower risk of injury with walking than running. One study looking at runners and walkers and found that walkers were less likely to get injured than runners. The risk of injury increases with increasing intensity and duration if you are not properly conditioned.

You can reduce your risk of running-related injury by following these tips.

Wear a running shoe that has provides stability and cushioning.

Wear shoes that fit you correctly.

Replace worn running shoes. If you run up to 10 miles per week, then you will need to replace your shoes every 9 to 12 months.

Run on smooth, even surfaces that are soft.

Fitting It Into Your Schedule

Walking can easily be spread out over the course of a day and generally does not require special clothing other than good shoes. Running, on the other hand, requires proper footwear, a complete change of clothes, and a post-workout shower, so it makes more sense to do it over one block of time during the day.

Walking Is More Suitable for Some

People who have not exercised regularly in a long time may want to begin with walking and then progress to running. Unlike running, walking is also suitable—and beneficial—for people with certain medical conditions.

Getting a Complete Workout

To get the most out of your workout, try adding strengthening and stretching exercises. Strength training the upper body and torso is important since they do not get much of a workout during regular running or walking. Strength training your lower body is also important because it will enhance your walking and running performance. Regular stretching will help loosen up your muscles.

The Choice That’s Best for You

Remember, if you have a doctor’s clearance to run or walk, choosing one over the other ultimately comes down to which activity you prefer. Mixing them up can also be a great way to add variety and flexibility to your exercise schedule.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Energy expenditure in different modes of exercise. American College of Sports Medicine website. Available at: http://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/energyexpendindifferentexmodes.pdf. Accessed February 17, 2014.